Hot-mill catcher



Feb. l1, 1930. A. R. MCARTHUR HoT MILL GATGHER 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. 28, 1927.

m Alu Jwenio' f 4er/fue E fryer/faz,

Feb. 11, 1-930;

A. R'. MCARTHUR HOT MILL CATCHER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2/ Filed DSG. 28, 1927 Feb. 11, 1930. A. R. MCARTHUR HOT MILL GATGHER -Filed Deo. 28, 1927 `5 Sheets-Sheet 5 o through the rear pair of pinch rolls which lfeed the sheets onto the catcher table, show-l Patented-F eb. n1 l 1930 UNITED .STATES p PATENT 'orifice' ARTHUR n. McAn'rHUn, or GARY, INDIANA, AssIeN'oB. |ro AMERICAN-SHEET AND TIN fSEY nor-MILL cA'rcnEn Application ledlluecember 28, 1927. Serial No. 243,029.y

'J1-his invention relates to hot mill catchers and more particularly tohot mill catchers for tin mills and the like, and has for one 4of its objects the provision of a catcher that will 5 be automatic and speedyinoperation.

0 Another object is to provide a catcher composed ofew parts and with a simple control ,so as to reduce the cost of construction' and maintenance to a minimum.

A further object is to provide a catche having the novel construction, design andarrangement of parts hereinafter described anda illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a catcher .constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan thereof. Figure 3 is`an enlarged sectional detai-l ing the brake mechanism.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional detail 'l taken on the line IV-lV of Figure 3;.

Figure k5 is a wiring diagram showing thel motor control circuits.

Referring more particularly' to the drawings, the letters A and B designate the upper and lower rolls of a hot mill.

The catcher of this invention comprises a wheeled frame C having inclined channel shaped upper side members 2 and extension side-plates 3 at its forward or mill end.

' A pair of inch rollers 4 and 5 are jour- 5 naled in suita le bearings 6 and 7, respectively, in the side-plates 3 and are adapted to receive the plates as they pass -from between the mill rolls A and B. A second set of pinch rollers 8 and 9 are journaled in bearings l() and 12, respectively, in the side-plates 3. rlhe upper bearings 6 and l() for the upper rollers of said pairs of pinch rollers, are spring pressed so as to permit the plates to pass therebetween. The uper roller 8 of said second pair of pinch rollers is limited in its movement toward the lower roller 9 by a block 8a., so asto maintain said rollers in spaced relation.

A compound motor 14 is mounted on the frame C and is provided with a pinion 15 Vwhich meshes with a gear 16 on a driveshaft 17. A sprocket 18 is mounted on the shaft 17, and is connected with a sprocket 19v onthe lower pinch roller 5 by a chain 20 so as to normally drive the roller 5 in 'a clock'- vwise direction. The upper pinch roller 4 is in frictions-l engagement with the roller 5 so that the roller 4 will be driven in a counter-clockwise direction. The roller 4 is prov `v1oled wlth a drive-sprocket 21' which is con nested to e sprocket 22 on a plate return roller 23 b .a chain 24. The roller 23 is journaled in. Xed bearings in the side-plates 3 and 1s adapted to aid ir conveying the plates overthe rolls when they are returned by the catcher.

`the single motor 14 serves to drive'the pair of pinch rollers 4 and 5, the conveying or plate return roller 23, and the upper roller 8 of the pair of pinch rollers 8 and 9.

A plate supporting idler roller '29 is jour- IPIIIA'JLEy COMPANY, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F vNEW JEB- naled in the side plates3 between the pairs ofV pinch rollers and serves td support the hot plate as it passes from one pairof pinch rollers to the other.

A second plate supportingidler'roller 30 is journaled above and forward of the upper pinch roller 4 to support the plate as it passes over the upper mill roll A.

Afplurality of conveyer rollers Yare arranged in spaced relation along the inclined side members 2 of the frame C and arecomposed of shafts 32 journaled in bearings 33 `on the side members 2 and having disks 34 pairs of sprockets 41 which sprockets are connected by chains 42 so as to cause all of said conveyer rollers Y :to be rotated inthe same direction by said sin le motor 35.

The motor 35 is a a' ted to normally drive or rotate the rollers toward the mill or in a counter-clockwise direction so as to return the plates over the rolls A andB.

In order to automatically gage the length of the lates and to run the full length or finishedp plates away from the mill, means are provided for automatically-reversing the motor 35. 1

The automatic reversing meanscomprises a shaft extension 45 on the loweror idler pinch roller 9 on which is mounted a pinion 46 which is in mesh with a rack 47 slidably mounted for vertical movement in a guideway 48. The rack 47 is adapted to engage and trip a vertically adjustable switch 49 when the rack is elevated a su'fiicient distance by the pinion 46 as the idlerroller 9 is rotated when a plate passes between the rollers '8 and 9.

The tripping of the switch -49 is adapted to energize 'an electric' reversing control mechanism designated generally by the numeral 50. The control 50 is standard design and is shown in detail in the wiring diagram of Figure 5.

When the switch 49 is tripped it will energize the solenoid 51 which will operate the switch 52 and complete a circuit through the coils 53 of magnetically operated switches 54 which will operate to reverse the armature circuit of the motor 35.

The normal or forward circuit to the arf mature of motor 35 is from the supply line 55 through line 56, through one of the switches 54, line 56, then through the armature of the motor 35, through the line 57 and the other switch 54 to line 58, and back to the other supply line 59.

When the solenoid 51 has been energized by the tripping of the switch 49 and thc switches 54 have been moved into reverse position a circuit will be completed from supply line 55, through the line 56, switch 54, line 60 and resistance 61, to line 57, then through the armature to line '56 and line 62 and resistance 63, to the second switch 54 and back through line 58 to the other supply line 59.`

Astandard manually operated switch is provided for completing the circuit from the supply lines 55 and 59, and a second standard switch shown only as a rectangular box 66 is shown secured to the machine frame and is provided for closing the circuit to the motor 14.

The solenoid l51 is provided with a dash-pot 51* which serves to time the operation of the switch 52 so said switch will remain closed until the plates have been conveyed olf of the catcher.

In order to prevent the lower or idler pinch roller 9 from overunning after the plate has passed from between the pinch rollers 8 and 9 and thereby causing the switch 49 to be actuated to reverse the motor 35 before the plate is rolled to age or length, I have provided a brake on t eroller-shaft.

The brake on the shaft of roller 9 comprises a ratchet-wheel 70 secured t0 the shaft of the roller 9 and a brake-drum 71 journaled on the shaft and having a dog 72 adapted to engage the ratchet-wheel 70. A brake-shoe 73 1s pivotally connected to one arm of a cranklever 74 pivotally mounted on a shaft 75. A shaft 7 6'is jou `naled immediately forward of the pinch rollers 8 and 9 and has a pair of operating triggers 77 keyed thereon and adapted to be depressed by the plates as they enter between the rollers 8 and 9, so as to rock the shaft 7 6. A lever 78 is keyed on the shaft 76 and connected by a link 79 to the crank-lever 74. A spring normally tends to force the brake-shoe 73 against the brakedrum 71.

When the plates approach the pinch rollers 8 and9 they will engage and depress the levers or triggers 77 so as to rock the shaft 76 and thereby move the brake-shoe away from the drum 71, thus permitting the lower pinch roller 9 to rotate since the dog 72 may rotate the drum 71.

As soon as the plate passes through the pinch rollers 8 and 9 the trigges 77 will be released and the spring 80 will snap the brake-shoe 73 against the drum 71, thereby stopping the rotation of the roller 9 in the forward or clockwise direction.

The roller 9 will be free to move in the reverse directon after the brake-shoe is applied since the dog 72 can ride over the ratchet 70. This free reverse movement will permit the rack 47 to fall to its lower gr normal position by gravity in readiness to gage the same plate or the next plate.

It will also he noted that the brake mechallt) nism will prevent any rebound of the rack 47 as it falls by gravity.

The foremost roller Y, that is the roller Y nearest the mill end of the catcher, is elevated slightly above the other rollers Y so as to elevate the end of the plates being returned over the mill.

In operation, the plates will pass from between the mill rolls A and B into the bite of the pinch rollers 4 and 5, and then into the bite of the pinch rollers 8 and 9. The pinch rollers 8 and 9 will feed the plates onto the conveyer rollers Y which are, it the plates are not rolled to finished length, being rotated in a counter-clockwise direction or toward the mill, and will consequently reverse the direction of movement of the plates and move them toward the mill.

The foremost roller Y is 'elevated above the other rollers Yso that the mill end of the elevatedor tilted upwardly so as to engagethe upplei surface of the. rollers 8, 23

"'- and 4, all of w ich are rotatin 1n a counterclockwise direction and will, t erefore, serve to boost the plates over the top mill roll A which is also rotating in a counter-clockwise direction.

Prior to the rolling of the plates the switch 49 will be adjusted vertically so that the rack 47 will not trip the switch unless the plates are of suiiicient length to rotate the idler pinch roller 9 a suiricient number of revolutions to cause the pinion 46 to elevate the raclc a predetermined amount.

When the plates are rolled out to iinished length the friction of the plate passing between the pinch rollers 8 and 9 will rotate the idler roller 9 a sutlicient number of revolutions to cause the rack 47 to trip the switch 49, thus energizing the automatic reversing mechanism 50 and reversing the motor 35 so as to reverse the direction of rotation of the `tall by rollers Y, causing them to rotate in a clock- `Wise direction and carry the plate rearwardly ed ot the catcher.

When the plate has passed from betweenthe pinch rollers 8 and 9, the rack 47 will gravity and permit the switch 49 to reset tor the next operation. However, once the lswitch 49 has been. tripped, the motor 35 will remain' reversed, for a predetermined time, due tothe dash-pot control on the switch 52 which will hold the switch 59. closed a sufficient length of time for theplate to be conveyed rearwardly off of the catcher.

While I have shown and described one specie embodiment of my invention it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto since various modifications may be made without. departing from the scope of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim- 1. The combination with a hot mill of a catcher, said catcher comprising at least one set of pinch rolleis -or receiving the plates as they pass from said mill, a table, a plurality of conveying rollers `journaled on said table, meansfor operating said pinch rollers, other means for rollers, saidlast named means normally rotating said rollers toward themill, and means operable by and dependent on the length of the plates for reversing said last namedcneans so as to reverse said conveying. rollers.

2. The combination with a hot mill of a catcher, said catcher comprising at least one set of pinch rollers'for receiving the plates as they pass from said mill, a rigid table inclined toward said mill, a plurality of conveying rollers j ournaled on said table, means for operating said pinch rollers, other means for operating said conveying rollers, said last named means normally rotating said rollers operating lsaid conveying ,toward the mill, and means operable .by andA dependent on the length of the plates for reversing said last named means so as to reverse said conveying rollers.

3. The combination with a hot mill ot a catcher, said catcher comprising at least two sets of pinch rollers for receiving the plates as they pass from said mill, one roller of one of said sets of pinch rollers being an idler roller and being spaced from the other roller of said set a distance sulicient to clear said other roller and adapted to be driven by the platesas it passesbetween said rollers, a table, a plurality ot' conveying rollers journaled on said table, means tor driving said pinch rollers, other means tor driving said conveying rollers, said last named means normally drlving said conveying rollers toward the mili, and means operable by said idler pinch roller ior reversing said last named means so as to reverse said conveying rollers.-

4f. rlhe combination with a hot mill oi" a catcher, said catcher comprising at least two sets ot pinch rollers for receiving the plates as they pass from said mill, one roller oi one of said sets ot pinch rollers being an idler roller and being spaced from the other roller of said set a distance suoient to clear said other roller and adapted to be driven by the plate as it passes between said rollers, a table, a plurality ot conveying rollers journaled on said table, an electric motor for driving vsaid pinch rollers, a second electric motor for ,driving said conveying rollers,

said second named motor normally driving 5. The combination with a ,hot mill of a catcher, saidfcatcher comprising at least two sets of-'pinch rollers for receiving the plates as they pass from said mill, one roller of one of said sets of pinch rollers being an idler roller and' being spacedfrom the other roller of said set a distance suiiicient to clear said other roller and adapted to be driven by the plate as it passes between said rollers, a table, a Vplurality of conveying rollers journaled on said table, an electric motor for driving said pinch rollers, a second electric motor for driving said conveying rollers, said second named motor normally driving said conveying rollers toward said mill, electrically operated means for reversing, the direction of rotation of said second named motor, a switch torl controlling said electrically operated means, and a rack and pinion operating mechanism operable by said idler pinch roller for operating said switch.

6. The combination with a hot mill of a' catcher, said catcher comprising at least two isc sets of pinch rollers for receiving the plates the idler roller for releasin said brake means.

as they pass from said mill, one roller of one of said sets of pinch rollers being an idler roller and bein spaced from the other roller of said set a distance sufficient to clear said other roller and adapted to be driven by the plate as it passes between said rollers, a table, a plurality of`conveying rollers j ournaled on sald table, an electric motor Afor driving said inch rollers, a second electric motor for riving said conveying rollers, said second named motor normally driving. said conveying rollers toward said mill, e ctrically operated means for reversing the direction of rotation of said second named motor, a switch In testimony whereof,

my hand.

fr controlling said electrically operated'4 means, a pinion o erable by said idler pinch roller, and a rac operable by said pinion and adapted to trip said switch.

7. The combination with a hot mill of al catcher, said catcher comprising at least two sets of pinch rollers for receiving the plates as they pass from said mill, one roller of one of said sets of pinch rollers being an idler roller and being spaced from the lother roller of said set a dlstance sutlicient to clear said other roller and adapted to be'driven by the plate as it passes between said rollers, a table, a lurality of conveying rollers journaled on sa1d table, an electric motor for driving said pinch rollers, a second electric motor for driving said conveying rollers, said second named motor normally driving said conveying rollers toward said mill, electrically operated means for reversing the direction of rotation of said second named motor, a switch for controlling said electrically operated means,

apinion operable by said idler pinch roller, a rack operable by said pinion and adapted to trip said switch, and means for prevent-ing the overrun of said idler pinch roller.

8. The combination with a hot mill of a catcher, said catcher comprising at least two sets of pinch rollers for receiving the plates as they pass from said mill, one roller of one of said sets of pinch rollers being an idler roller and being spaced from the other roller of said set a distance sufficient to clear said other roller and adapted to be driven by the plate as it passes betweensaid rollers, a table, a plurality of conveying rollers journaled on said table, an electric motor for driving said pinch rollers, a second electric motor for driv- 111g said conveying rollers, said second named motor normally driving said conveying rollers toward said mill, electrically operated means for reversing the direction of rotation of said second named motor, a switch for controlling said electrically operated means, a pinion operable by said idler pinch roller, a rack operable by said pinion and adapted to trip said switch, brake means for preventing t e .overrun of said idler pinch roller, and means operable by the plates as they pass between said set lof pinch rollers including have hereunto set ARTHUR it. Mean-rima 

